PRAWNS from a Port Lincoln supermarket suspected of having white spot disease have tested negative for the disease.

Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) confirmed on Friday that test results on a small amount of suspect prawn stocks, secured from the supermarket on Thursday, were negative for the disease.

However PIRSA warned recreational fishers not to use prawns meant for human consumption as bait, as they had the potential to spread the virus.

The highly contagious viral infection has been detected on a number of prawn farms in the Logan River area of South East Queensland.

The disease is not in South Australia, however could pose a serious threat to the state’s freshwater and marine crustaceans if introduced.

An import ban is in place to prevent the disease entering South Australia.